Exterior

There are 8 exterior paint colours, and 5 interiors to choose from. A variable cornucopia of choice variants result. Red has proved to be the most popular, and why not, it goes faster.

New wheels range from 16” to 18” as you move up the range. Akari’s 18” wheels are new and make the little SUV look like is just had a quick workout. It looks all muscular and butch, in a cutsie-pie kind of way. I think the proportions are just right.

The grille has been refined with subtle changes in the lines running across it, and the trim around it. The lower bumper is new, and there are new LED head and tail lights. Akari has radar cruise control, so the Mazda badge at the front is now solid and houses the front facing radar.

New chrome trim around the grille, and along under the doors adds a bit of bling to the exterior.

Grey plakky trim around the nether regions add a touch of verisimilitude. It gives owners the impression that muddy country lanes and lofty hilltops are not unreachable. Even in AWD models, it isn’t something I would want to tackle.

All in all- the face of CX 3 is more cute than handsome. The pleasing shape, strong lines, and attractive lighting arrays make the little hatchback look expensive, and buyers like that premium look. That claim is backed up by the impressive sales figures.

Interior

Seating is superbly comfortable with extra cushioning on front seats adding to the isolation from road and engine vibration. Cream trim on our Akari looked brilliant, but is the antithesis of an easy-clean interior des

ign.

There are new arm rests front and back.

The centre stack is topped by a touch screen tablet, so keep a mircofibre cloth handy if you don’t want your OCD set off. There is a controller in the centre console between the front seats. It has also been redesigned and relocated with the addition of an electric parking brake.

More controls have been grouped around it, making it a command centre where most used changes can be easily made. It was made possible when the hand brake lever was done away with.

Doors have Alcantara fabric, and a new surround for power window controls.

Further controls have been grouped below and to the right of the steering column. These are regularly used, but less often than those on the centre console. It has been thoughtfully considered and is much easier to use than the old car.

Steering wheel buttons round off the ergonomics with everything being in easy reach. Best of all, it all make sense. Connecting to Bluetooth can be done in under 20 seconds without the need for the user guide.

Space is uber-tight in the back seats for taller occupants, but this is a city car so for short trips it is adequate. My knees were right against the front seat back, so anything further than a 20 minute trip might get old very fast.

The cabin looks and feels good quality with everything you touch and see looking more expensive than the entry-level prices might indicate.

Features

Cool features like a 360° camera, blind spot monitor, electric parking brake and smart radar cruise control have been added to some models. None of these are particularly rare, but Mazda claims noe other small SUV offers all of these in one car. Only the Akari is fully loaded though.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is an update coming around Christmas time.

Mazda wasn’t firm on timing or price, but hinted at the end of the year, with $200 being the probable price. It is a dealer fitted thing so anyone with a Mazda bought in the last few years should book their jalopy in for a useful upgrade.

The 360° camera is particularly handy, and while not unique, is something you quickly learn you can’t do without. Never again will you park badly at the local shopping centre.

Akari’s audio system has great tone. CarPlay will expand its usefulness .

360° camera

Radar cruise control

Electric parking brake

Stop and Go (engine turns off at traffic lights)

Auto dimming rear view mirror

Climate control

Smart Entry/start

Drive and Engine

The 2.0L petrol engine has been tweaked and gets an extra 1kw and 3 Nm over the old model lifting figures to 111kw and 195Nm.

The turbo diesel grows from 1.5 to 1.8L with power up from 77kw to 85kw, with torque remaining at 270Nm. Max torque cuts in at a low 1,600rpm.

Mazda says it kept the torque at 270Nm to keep the damaging NOX particles at a minimum. These minute particles are the components of diesel exhaust which cause lung damage.

CX3 comes in front, or AWD mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6 speed auto. Sales figures show customers were drawn to petrol, Front Wheel Drive, automatic variants, but Managing Director of Mazda Australia, Vinesh Bhindi, says it costs the company nothing to give customers a wider choice.

Ride, handling, and noise have all been substantially improved, but most notable is the brilliant ride. Handling is good but the soft ride means CX 3 prefers a gentle meander to warp ten cornering.

Remember. CX3 is based on Mazda 2, a city car. Like the 2, CX 3 is a city car to be used for around town chores, but 2-up could easily manage a longer trip.

Mazda took us on a bunch of different roads. Highways were particularly relaxed and showed CX 3 as a classy competent tourer with just the front seats being used. Overtaking needed some thought though. Even in sport mode, CX 3 is no power house, but then, it doesn’t pretend to be.

The petrol engine got a little breathless on hills, but a kick in the guts soon sorts all that out.

It handled mid corner bumps without much aplomb, and on quieter sections of tarmac, was almost completely silent.

As the green hills slid by, i felt relaxed in my comfy cocoon. It made the mini tour a pleasure.

Around town, both engines were nippy, and this is where CX 3 is going to be happiest. Low gearing allows spritely take-offs at lights. The 6-speed automatic is smooth. Like all gearboxes in modern cars, it changes up as quickly as possible for best fuel economy. In an ideal world, you’d keep the revs as high as possible.

The diesel has considerably more torque and you notice that at low revs but it feels much more agricultural than her petrol sister.

Electric power steering got the laying on of hands.

Men with laptops and white coats toiled sleeplessly for days on end to get the calibration just so.

And, It shows. Steering feels much more responsive than before. Although it remains light and easy, there is enough road feel to give the driver a satisfying amount of feedback. Along with the tiny exterior dimensions, it makes parking effortless.

I can imagine a couple doing a cheeky weekend away with a picnic hamper and overnight totes in the back. There is even room for your mutt if that’s your thing. If you treat CX 3

Safety

CX 3 got a 5-star ANCAP rating in 2015, and has gained further safety enhancements.

You can search your car’s safety rating here, but remember, that rating is as of the date tested. You old banger might have gotten 5 stars in 2001, but may not score more than 1 or 2 now.

Among upgrades are:.

Radar Cruise Control

360 Camera

Autonomous emergency braking in forward and reverse

Emergency brake assist

i-ACTIVSENSE

Good Bits

good looks

classy cabin

comfortable seating

Not So Good Bits

space can be tight for larger adults

petrol engine can be breathless on the highway

CarPlay still only a promise

Summary

CX is my favourite Mazda SUV.

City cars need to be two things: economical, and diminutive. CX 3 is both. The surprise is how well it handled country roads.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Founded by Alan Zurvas Gay Car Boys was started 10 years ago attracting enthusiastic gay writers with an interest in cars. Gay Car Boys regularly take you for a spin and talk cars the gay way. We update you with news and other reviews, relevant to the LGBT community. Think queer glamorous and delicious.